Eulogy of Beulah Ruth Fossland
By Kelsie Newbrough

Beulah Ruth Fossland, 85, of Winthrop Harbor went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, June 11, 2006. I was asked to read her obituary and intrusted to add a few words of my own.

She was born August 8, 1920 in San Antonio, TX. She attended grade school in San Antonio and high school and college in Houston, TX. Her musical career began at age 6 when she competed in a piano contest and won over hundreds of other children. As a college student, she had the honor of playing the Tschaikowsky Piano Concerto with the Houston Summer Symphony.

She married Dan Loblaw in 1943, and after two years of living in New York City, they returned to Zion, where they lived until his death in 1991.

Beulah Ruth asked Jesus into her life in 1947, and worked faithfully as a piano teacher, church pianist, organist, choir director, wife, and mother. She was a faculty member of the Zion Conservatory for 51 years, graduating many piano students. Many of her students are ministering in music in churches throughout the country. She was active in the PTA, Zion Women's Club, Assistance in Healthcare Foundation, and the Hardy Hikers Walking Group, which she started almost 25 years ago.

Beulah Ruth married Arthur Fossland in 1994 and became a resident of Winthrop Harbor. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Emmet and Annie Morris; a brother, Lewis Morris; and a sister, Edith Friend. She is survived by her husband, "Art" Fossland, a son, Jonathan and his wife Dawn Loblaw of Altamont, IL; And two daughters, Pam and her husband Steve Engel of Kenosha, WI and Debbie and Charlie Keller of Cassopolis, MI; Three grandsons, Nathan and his wife Tina Engel, Erik and his wife Luz Engel and Joey Engel; and two granddaughters, Jennifer and Danielle Keller; great-grandsons, Paul and David Engel; great-granddaughter, Emily Engel; and great-grandsons, Aaron and Tyler Engel. A sister, Anne Kane of Ft. Lauderdale also survives her, Three nieces, Pat and her husband Ken Larsen, Anne and her husband Al Newell, and Merrily and her husband Ken Knepper; a nephew, Wilbur and his wife Helen Friend; and many great nieces and nephews.

We are gathered here on Thursday morning, June 15, 2006 for a celebration of her life, with Rev. Benny Ramos and Rev. Charles Keller officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Memorial Park, Zion.

The CONGDON FUNERAL HOME, has taken good care of the family.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made in memory of Beulah Ruth Loblaw Fossland to Zion Revival Center, 2413 Elisha Avenue, Zion, IL 60099, to STAR Hospice, 99 Greenwood Avenue, Waukegan, IL 60085, or to Zion Conservatory of Music Scholarship Fund, 2500 Dowie Memorial Drive, Zion, IL 60099.

It is an honor today for me to read this obituary.
The first week in April, Beulah Ruth shared with me that she had written it. Wishing to make light of it, I asked her if she had included that she was a magnificent person. She laughed and said I could add that myself. So here is my feeble attempt.

Long after Beulah Ruth’s voice could not speak, I felt impressed to read to her from God’s Word, and was handed her own Bible which was laying on the table nearby.
I opened to the Titus 2 & 3, Paul’s instruction to the church. I found she had done some highlighting. That was her last message to me and to you.
Please read it at home; remember you have two more pastors to hear from today, so I won’t take up their time.
I am sure each of you could tie your own story into this obituary and we would be here for many hours and we would not tire, because it would be wonderful. But for all of us, here is what I will add.
Beulah Ruth Fossland was a mentor: What is a mentor?

• A model- Although she was quite lovely and easy to look at, she was not the skinny or shallow magazine version, but a model of modern day Biblical living.
• As an encourager- She encouraged all of us to be who God means for us to be.
• As an imparter of knowledge – She was a teacher to many of us on many topics.

As my mentor she taught me to
• To Prepare – She loved to be prepared, whether it was setting the table for lunch or planning the music for a worship service.
• To Maximize- She developed and used her own talents and saw potential in others as well.
• To Repair- She was responsible for her own relationships and well being and maintained them beautifully. She encouraged others to do the same and if necessary to reconcile and forgive the past and move forward.
Beulah Ruth Fossland was a woman of God;
• One who made knowing God a top priority.
• One who discovered and lived the truth
• One who sought out healthy relationships
• One who became a godly mentor
• One who remained teachable as she walked closely to Jesus, her Master teacher.

Like the women of the Bible, but as a modern day woman of God, Beulah Ruth Fossland worshiped, served and proclaimed His goodness with her words and deeds.
By her life she said to each of us what Paul said to the church in 1 Thess. 2:8
We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the Gospel of God, but our lives as well.

As mentioned before, Beulah Ruth founded a group called the Hardy Hikers. This group meets four times a week, year round, at the Illinois Beach State Park.
She would want me to invite you to join us;
Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 7:00 a.m.
We’ll be waiting for you in the first lot on the right, after passing the lodge.
Twelve years ago when I first joined this group, I had no idea how through it, God would change my life.
We walk, we laugh, we cry, we pray, we learn from each other and from the nature around us.
I am so grateful to God for the opportunity to have met my mentor, my friend, Beulah Ruth Fossland.

Henry Van Dyke wrote a poem titled A Mile With Me. I have asked Beulah Ruth’s granddaughters, Jen and Danielle Keller to share this poem with us as a symbolic passing of the baton, as we continue to celebrate the walk that is complete.

A Mile With Me

O who will walk a mile with me
Along life’s merry way?
A comrade blithe and full of glee,
Who dares to laugh out loud and free,
And let his frolic fancy play,
Like a happy child, through the flowers gay
That fill the field and fringe the way
Where he walks a mile with me.
And who will walk a mile with me
Along life’s weary way?
A friend whose heart has eyes to see
The stars shine out oe’r the darkening lea,
And the quiet rest at the end of the day,--
A friend who knows and dares to say,
The brave sweet words that cheer the way
Where he walks a mile with me.
With such a comrade, such a friend,
I fain would walk till journey’s end,
Through summer sunshine, winter rain,
And then?—Farewell, we shall meet again!
Henry Van Dyke